<![CDATA[FALLEN CLASSMATES.COM - Ross Sears-SLO-1969]]>

Ross Sears was born in February 1951 in San Luis Obispo, and passed away Sunday, March 18, 2012. Ross graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1969, earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Percussion at Indiana University School of Music and his Master of Arts Degree in Percussion at San Jose State University. He had performed with the San Diego Symphony and Opera, Symphony Orchestra of Maracaibo in Venezuela, San Jose Symphony, Opera San Jose, West Bay Opera, Monterey Symphony, West Bay Stage and San Jose Civic Light Opera. Locally, Ross had performed with the San Luis Obispo Symphony, PCPA Theaterfest, Vocal Arts Ensemble, Cuesta Master Chorale, Opera SLO, Santa Barbara Symphony, Festival Mozaic and most recently, the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre. He also taught percussion for many years at Cal Poly, where he will be missed by his many students. Ross was an exceptional person with a gentle, beautiful spirit and wonderful sense of humor. To know Ross was to love him. He will be deeply missed beyond words. His colleagues described Ross as, "The heartbeat of the orchestra." Ross leaves behind his sisters Marcia Martin (Steve), Janet Sears and Madeleine LaMon (Brent); brother, Brian Sears; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and colleagues. His parents, Ross and Eleanor Sears, preceded him in death. A musical tribute, open to the public, will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17, 2012, at the Spanos Theatre on the Cal Poly campus, where the San Luis Obispo Symphony will join the Cal Poly Music Department and Festival Mozaic to remember Ross and celebrate his life. Contributions in Ross'' honor, may be made to the San Luis Obispo Symphony.

Published in San Luis Obispo Tribune on April 29, 2012